Daniel Abineri is a songwriter and playwright, famous for writing the book, music and lyrics for the controversial musical Bad Boy Johnny and the Prophets of Doom. He also starred as Father Neil opposite Arthur Lowe in the 1970s TV comedy Bless Me Father, and was villain Jake Sanders in the 1980s Australian series Return to Eden. He is also notable for giving Russell Crowe his first professional acting role in The Rocky Horror Show in New Zealand in 1986.

Born in 1958 (his father was the actor John Abineri and his mother was part time actress Hilary Bamford) Daniel started his career in rep theatre in England. In 1977 he was cast as Father Neil in the highly successful TV series Bless Me Father opposite comedy star Arthur Lowe (star of Dad's Army). This led to roles opposite Tatum O'Neal (in International Velvet), and co-starring credits with Nigel Hawthorne, John Cleese, Eleanor Bron and Charles Gray.

In 1979, at the age of 21, he was cast as Frank-n-Furter in the very first British tour of The Rocky Horror Show, a role he played subsequently in the West End and on several tours of Australia and New Zealand.

He has also produced and directed several television documentaries, including One Hit Wonders for the BBC in 1997, Walk on the Wild Side for Granada TV, and Murder and Celebrity for UKTV.

He is married to TV executive Claudia Rosencrantz

[edit] External links

• Daniel Abineri at the Internet Movie Database